Post News Network
Rourkela, Jan 18: The tag of an airport continues to elude the airstrip at Rourkela despite it possessing the required infrastructure to be classified as one.
Sources said poor coordination between the Centre and state government is the reason for the airstrip failing to become certified as an airport.
At present, the airstrip, with a runway length of 6,000 ft, is managed by the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP). The Airport Authority of India (AAI) finds it difficult to upgrade the airstrip’s infrastructure since they don’t get the required cooperation from the state government, sources said. However, the ruling BJD said the state has no role to play in this matter as the onus is with the Union Steel Ministry.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that Union civil aviation ministry officials visited the city on several occasions to upgrade the airstrip into a regular airport by 2015. Sundargarh MP and Union minister Jual Oram reportedly chipped in with his efforts while the petroleum ministry has put up its depot for fueling purpose. Despite this, the status of a regular airport eludes this airstrip. Accusations flying back and forth between the Centre and state governments are not helping the matter, say locals.
Regular airport status for the existing airstrip is a necessity as the city is home to a range of institutions including RSP, National Institute of Technology (NIT) and Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT). Besides, there will be a strong base of fliers to the city in the wake of its being declared as a Smart City and the establishment of an industrial hub, IGH super specialty hospital and a medical college. It would be a gainful proposition if the landing field is connected with airports in Bhubaneswar, Kolkata, Raipur and Ranchi in the first phase, according to experts.
Local MLA Dilip Ray said Rourkela airstrip can easily become a regular airport if the state government comes forward with the required assistance. District BJD present Anand Mohanty, while undermining the role of the state in the issue, said the Union steel ministry should ask the AAI to take an initiative in this regard.
The state government has recently taken a number of steps to convert the Jharsuguda airstrip into a regular airport, it is learnt.